Out and about: Japandroids, Karrin Allyson, Royal Bliss, TSO

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Sean Hayes

Spotlight show • For six years, San Francisco soul-singing rocker Sean Hayes had a lyric floating around his head: "You may spend all your money before you turn to dust." It kept coming up during his songwriting  along with an image of a baby  but he never was able to use it. That is, until his son was born two years ago. Now, along with those opening lines, come the lyrics: "My little boy is smiling, soon he'll be sitting up, holding his own weight, grabbing for you." "It took a long time for that song to reveal itself," said Hayes, whose album "Before We Turn to Dust" was released, unfortunately, on Sept. 11, 2012. (It wasn't his intention for the album title to refer to the 9/11 tragedy.) Having a child has changed him, Hayes said. He had a long conversation with his wife before deciding to have a child, just as he had a long conversation with her when they were deciding to get married. He didn't want to be an absentee dad, and he hasn't been, although this State Room date is the last show of a six-week trek. While he is happy to be playing music for a living, he's also happy that he gets to see his son very soon. Birds of Chicago and Awna Teixeira open.

When • Friday, Nov. 16, 9 p.m.

Where • The State Room, 638 S. State St., Salt Lake City

Tickets • $16 at thestateroom.com

Leogun

Spotlight show • British three-piece blues-soul-rock band Leogun is led by frontman Tommy Smith, who when he was younger would do his best to sneak backstage to talk to people who could help him boost his career. "It's better to be on your own, really," Smith said about going backstage. "It's a solo act." In addition, he was advised, be confident, but not arrogant. One of those backstage visits paid off. He ended up meeting someone from Elton John's management company, and before Smith knew it, he and his band were the flagship signee of Yamaha's new record label. Elton John's connections also helped the trio get studio time at Nashville's legendary Blackbird Studio, where Pearl Jam, Tim McGraw and Bruce Springtseen have all recorded. Leogun released its first EP in October, with a full-length debut due in early 2013. And if you catch these guys backstage at The Complex, offer them your demo. "It's a compliment when people ask them to listen to a demo," Smith said. "You never know what you'll find." Codi Jordan Band and Spirit Master open.

When • Saturday, Nov. 17, 8 p.m.

Where • The Complex, 536 W. 100 South, Salt Lake City

Tickets • $8 in advance, $10 day of, at SmithsTix

Kip Moore

Spotlight show • Eric Church's headlining country set at the Maverik Center will open with two talented Moores of no relation  Kip Moore and Justin Moore. While Justin has delivered hits such as "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away," Kip is having a breakout year and is making his first stop in Utah this weekend. Kip grew up in tiny Tifton, Ga., "one of those towns were you had to create a good time," he said. He landed in Nashville as a songwriter, penning hits for other artists, until releasing his debut album, "Up All Night," in April. He immediately scored a No. 1 hit with "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck," which he co-wrote with Dan Couch after what Kip called a particular "sy" day of songwriting. As Couch was leaving for the night, Moore said he started riffing on the guitar with that line, and Couch perked up, and then they sat down and wrote the song in about 90 minutes. "I did it the wild way," Kip said.

When • Saturday, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m.

Where • Maverik Center, 3200 S. Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City

Tickets • $34.50-$202 at Ticketmaster

Japandroids

Spotlight show • The British Columbia-based duo of Brian King (guitar, vocals) and David Prowse (drums, vocals) started playing shows in 2006, but had broken up just as their debut record was released in 2009. "At the time, we were just a local band in Vancouver that no one knew about," King said. "It had been three years, [we] had only played between 50 and 60 shows, recorded a few EPs. It had been fun." But they parted ways  until fans and critics began raving about the album, and Japandroids were back in business. In May, the duo released its sophomore set, "Celebration Rock," an inspired blast of garage-rock that convinces you that a bass guitar really isn't necessary in the whole scheme of things. "A lot of people perceive that the band was an overnight success or an Internet sensation," King said. "It's been a long grueling climb." But the climb has been worth it. "You can tangibly hear the band getting better." Swearin' will open.

When • Saturday, Nov. 17, 9 p.m.

Where • Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City

Tickets • $14 at 24Tix

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Spotlight show • Trans-Siberian Orchestra is performing its rock opera "The Lost Christmas Eve" for the first time ever on its current tour. Creator Paul O'Neill said turning that song cycle into a laser-and-lights, classical-meets-rock spectacle was one of the few things in life that ever made him nervous. (Another time he was nervous was when TSO debuted another rock opera, "Beethoven's Last Night," in Vienna.) But, just as in Vienna, audiences have been won over for one reason or another. "The Lost Christmas Eve" is right for the anxious times, O'Neill said, with its "themes of hope and redemption." Almost two decades after O'Neill conceived of the Christmastime juggernaut, he's grateful that even in the days of the Internet, live music is alive and well. At least when it comes to TSO, which, due to demand for tickets, is playing two Salt Lake City shows in one day. "On paper, TSO shouldn't work," he said. "All that matters is that you're great."

When • Wednesday, Nov. 21, 4 and 8 p.m.

Where • EnergySolutions Arena, 301 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City

Tickets • $30-$59 at SmithsTix

Royal Bliss

Spotlight show • For most of the noncooking population, the day before Thanksgiving is a day to leave work early and do absolutely nothing for the rest of the evening while your cooking family and/or friends work themselves into hysterics worrying about how long to cook a 12-pound turkey. But for local hard-rock band Royal Bliss, this is the 10th straight year of performing the night before Thanksgiving, in what has become a "tradition," said frontman Neal Middleton. It's a gracious sentiment, considering that Middleton could be allowed to be bitter because he was robbed by the four clueless judges of "The Voice" earlier this year. But with new album "Waiting Out the Storm" out this year, Middleton is thankful that his band is still going strong. "We're happy to be in control of our own destiny," he said. VanMarter Project, American Hitmen, Joel Pack and The Pops will open.

When • Wednesday, Nov. 21, 8 p.m.

Where • The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City

Tickets • $20-$25 at SmithsTix

Peter Breinholt

Spotlight show • Midnight Madness runs all day on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Local musicians Peter Breinholt and Sam Payne will keep shoppers at South Towne Center company from midnight to 4 a.m., with Breinholt gigging from midnight to 2 a.m. Breinholt, a singer-songwriter well-known for his Christmas shows and other Salt Lake valley concerts, said when mall officials called him four years ago with the offer of the gig, he was incredulous. "I told my band, and I said, 'Are you sitting down?' " he said. But he ended up having fun and has been back every year. One year, he even flew in from his in-laws' Thanksgiving celebration in Palm Springs to play the unusually timed mall show. There's one thing he always make sure, though  he must eat loads of stuffing with heaping scoops of gravy on top at the Thanksgiving meal beforehand. Carb-loading is good for a midnight show  just ask Axl Rose.

When • Friday, Nov. 23

Where • South Towne Center, 10450 S. State St., Sandy

Tickets • Free

The English Beat

Ska fans can rejoice and shake to the rock-steady beat of The English Beat, with Insatiable opening.

When • Friday, Nov. 16, 9 p.m.

Where • The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City

Tickets • $25 at SmithsTix

Mayday Parade and The Maine

Alternative rock groups Mayday Parade and The Maine will perform. Mayday Parade recently released a self-titled album and has had hits with songs "Get Up" and "Stay."

Punk/blues band The Devil Makes Three will perform with guest Jonny Fritz Corndawg.

When • Saturday, Nov. 17, 9 p.m.

Where • The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City

Tickets • $17.50 at SmithsTix

I Fight Dragons, Mc Lars and Skyfox

I Fight Dragons will perform with MC Lars and Skyfox.

When • Sunday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m.

Where • Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West), Salt Lake City

Tickets • $12 at 24Tix

Jazz Vespers

The Jazz Vespers Quartet, led by David Halliday and Courtney Smith, will perform a tribute to the music of Bob Dylan.

When • Sunday, Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m.; doors open at 7 p.m.

Where • First Unitarian Church, 1300 E. 569 South, Salt Lake City

Tickets • Free; donations requested

Unwritten Law

The rock band will perform along with Versus The World, Racist Kramer and The Hung Ups.

When • Tuesday, Nov. 20, 8 p.m.

Where • Bar Deluxe, 666 S. State St., Salt Lake City

Tickets • $14 at 24Tix

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